The move, which will affect thesun.co.uk and timesonline.co.uk among others, comes as news publishers struggle to remain profitable in the face of falling print circulations and free online news channels.

Initially, publishers started out publishing paid-access content online, but they then embraced the free model to win market share.

However, according to Murdoch, the digital revolution has "opened up many new and inexpensive methods of distribution", but has "not made content free".

He added: "Quality journalism is not cheap and an industry that gives away its content is simply cannibalising its ability to produce good reporting."

A timeline has been set for "the next 12 months" but no details of pricing have been released.

The plans were unveiled as News Corp announced a $3.4bn (£2bn) loss for the previous year, compared with a $5.4bn profit the previous year.